Sirpa Jalkanen profile picture
Sirpa
Jalkanen
Research Director, InFLAMES Flagship
Professor of Immunology, Academician

Contact

+358 29 450 4379
+358 40 566 9611
Tykistökatu 6
20520
Turku

Areas of expertise

Immunology
inflammation
cancer
drug development
biomarkers

Biography

Academician Sirpa Jalkanen is Academy Professor and Professorof Immunology at the Medical Faculty, University of Turku. After her postdoctoral period at Stanford University she has worked in different researcher positions at the University of Turku, Finnish National Institute of Health and Welfare as well as the Academy of Finland. Recently, she has also worked first as a vice chair and then as a chair of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters. She is the director of the MediCity Research Laboratory (the Research Unit of the Medical Faculty, University of Turku). 

The main interest of Sirpa Jalkanen’s research group has been in the mechanisms mediating the cell trafficking in harmful inflammations and cancer. She has published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers and has more than 10 patents. She is an EMBO member and a member of Academia Europae and has received several awards and honours such as Eli Lilly award, Maud Kuistila Prize, Anders Jahre Prize, Äyräpää Prize, Datta Medal, and 2ndEuropean Women Innovator Prize and the Finnish Pharma Industry Prize. 

She has also several positions of trust. She is a member of the board in three big Finnish Foundations financing research In addition she is a member of the board of Orion, the biggest pharmaceutical company in Finland and has been a co-founder of two biotech companies.

 

 

Teaching

I have been teaching immunology for medical students since 1981. However, my main contribution is to train PhD students and postdoctoral fellows.

Research

The overall goal of the research of the Jalkanen group is to elucidate the mechanisms regulating the traffic of leukocytes and cancer cells in the body. The focus is both on blood and lymphatic vasculature. Harmful leukocyte migration into the joints in rheumatoid arthritis and into the pancreas in diabetes are examples of diseases where leukocytes cause extensive destruction. These inflammatory diseases can be cured by inhibiting leukocyte trafficking. Also metastasising malignant cells often use the same mechanisms as leukocytes when extravasating from blood to different organs or migrating via the lymphatics into distant sites. The results obtained can be utilized when new types of drugs are developed to treat harmful inflammations and cancer. The group utilises the most modern imaging techniques, animal models, molecular and cell biology methods including single cell sequencing and mass cytometry and is intimately collaborating with clinicians.

Publications

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Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 Determines the Cellular Properties of Endometrial Pericytes (2021)

Frontiers in cell and developmental biology
Gharanei Seley, Fishwick Katherine, Durairaj Ruban Peter, Jin Tianrong, Siamantouras Eleftherios, Liu Kuo-Kang, Straube Anne, Lucas Emma S, Weston Christopher J, Rantakari Pia, Salmi Marko, Jalkanen Sirpa, Brosens Jan J, Tan Bee Kang
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))

First-in-Human Study of 68 Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9, PET Ligand Targeting Vascular Adhesion Protein 1 (2021)

Journal of Nuclear Medicine
Viitanen Riikka, Moisio Olli Antero, Lankinen Petteri, Li Xiang-Guo, Koivumäki Mikko, Suilamo Sami, Tolvanen Tuula, Taimen Kirsi, Mali Markku, Kohonen Ia, Koskivirta Ilpo, Oikonen Vesa, Virtanen Helena, Santalahti Kristiina, Autio Anu, Saraste Antti, Pirilä Laura, Nuutila Pirjo, Knuuti Juhani, Jalkanen Sirpa, Roivainen Anne
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))

Genome-wide association study of circulating interleukin 6 levels identifies novel loci (2021)

Human Molecular Genetics
Ahluwalia Tarunveer S, Prins Bram P, Abdollahi Mohammadreza, Armstrong Nicola J, Aslibekyan Stella, Bain Lisa, Jefferis Barbara, Baumert Jens, Beekman Marian, Ben-Shlomo Yoav, Bis Joshua C, Mitchell Braxton D, de Geus Eco, Delgado Graciela E, Marek Diana, Eriksson Joel, Kajantie Eero, Kanoni Stavroula, Kemp John P, Lu Chen, Marioni Riccardo E, McLachlan Stela, Milaneschi Yuri, Nolte Ilja M, Petrelis Alexandros M, Porcu Eleonora, Sabater-Lleal Maria, Naderi Elnaz, Seppälä Ilkka, Shah Tina, Singhal Gaurav, Standl Marie, Teumer Alexander, Thalamuthu Anbupalam, Thiering Elisabeth, Trompet Stella, Ballantyne Christie M, Benjamin Emelia J, Casas Juan P, Toben Catherine, Dedoussis George, Deelen Joris, Durda Peter, Engmann Jorgen, Feitosa Mary F, Grallert Harald, Hammarstedt Ann, Harris Sarah E, Homuth Georg, Hottenga Jouke-Jan, Jalkanen Sirpa, Jamshidi Yalda, Jawahar Magdalene C, Jess Tine, Kivimaki Mika, Kleber Marcus E, Lahti Jari, Liu Yongmei, Marques-Vidal Pedro, Mellström Dan, Mooijaart Simon P, Müller-Nurasyid Martina, Penninx Brenda, Revez Joana A, Rossing Peter, Räikkönen Katri, Sattar Naveed, Scharnagl Hubert, Sennblad Bengt, Silveira Angela, St Pourcain Beate, Timpson Nicholas J, Trollor Julian, van Dongen Jenny, Van Heemst Diana, Visvikis-Siest Sophie, Vollenweider Peter, Völker Uwe, Waldenberger Melanie, Willemsen Gonneke, Zabaneh Delilah, Morris Richard W, Arnett Donna K, Baune Bernhard T, Boomsma Dorret I, Chang Yen-Pei C, Deary Ian J, Deloukas Panos, Eriksson Johan G, Evans David M, Ferreira Manuel A, Gaunt Tom, Gudnason Vilmundur, Hamsten Anders, Heinrich Joachim, Hingorani Aroon, Humphries Steve E, Jukema J Wouter, Koenig Wolfgang, Kumari Meena, Kutalik Zoltan, Lawlor Deborah A, Lehtimäki Terho, März Winfried, Mather Karen A, Naitza Silvia, Nauck Matthias, Ohlsson Claes, Price Jackie F, Raitakari Olli, Rice Ken, Sachdev Perminder S, Slagboom Eline, Sørensen Thorkild I A, Spector Tim, Stacey David, Stathopoulou Maria G, Tanaka Toshiko, Wannamethee S Goya, Whincup Peter, Rotter Jerome I, Dehghan Abbas, Boerwinkle Eric, Psaty Bruce M, Snieder Harold, Alizadeh Behrooz Z; CHARGE Inflammation Working Grp
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))